Form spacer for concrete fireproofing for steel structures



Nov. 12, 1929. w. A. FERRIS 1,735,198

4 'FORM SPACER FOR CONCRETE FIREPROOFING FOR STEEL STRUCTURES Filed 001;. 2 1926 1a 10 F1920. 2c

v j J 1 R5 3 39.36: Fi .3 17155.4 1769.46; Fig. 6

v Irwerzzar 1: 3' \wallacefli'errzls' [06 62668 W A\ Patented Nov. i 12, 1929 UNITED" sift ArrEs WALLACE A. FERRIS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ronm srecnn FOR CONCRETE rlnnrnoorme nonsrnnr. STRUCTURES Application filed some 27, 1926. seria No. 144,455.

This invention relates more particularly to means for establishing and maintaining proper spacing between wooden forms and steel columns or I-beams during the opera- 5 tion of encasing such parts of a steel struc' ture with concrete for fire proofing purposes. An object of this invention is to provide a cheap, simple and easily applied spacer whereby workmen may accurately and posi- 10 tively space the members of the wooden form a certain distance from the steel I-beam or column to be encased, so that the concrete casing poured into the mold will be of the desired thickness. i

An object is to provide a cheaper, simpler, more convenient and more easily handled device for this purpose, than has heretofore been provided.

Thls lnvention consists of a flat piece of SO sheet or plate metal having one end adapted to contact with a surface of the steel column orI-beam and the other end provided with a stop and one or more teeth adapted to be driven into the wooden form member until the stop contacts with the surface of such form member, so that a form member provided with a required number of such spacers may be set with the free ends of the spacers against the structural member to be encased and said spacers will maintain the proper spacing between the form member and the structural member.

In the preferred form of the invention the spacer consists of a body having tooth eX-.

tending endwise from one end of the body, and having two feet extending laterally from the foot end of the body, plate or piece of metal to form the stop so that when the workman drives the point or points into the wooden form the foot or feet will hold the flat plate or body at right angles to the surface of the form member.

An object is to provide in the simplest form, a spacer stamped from sheet metal and affording a central point projecting from a straight body having at the root of the point a supporting face extending in a common plane on every side of the tooth at right angles to the axis of the tooth and body, and serving to bring the body to position at right angles to themold form without bending the tooth as the spacer is driven home.

Otherobje'cts, advantages and features of invention may appear fromthe accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention. I

Figure 1 is a face view ,of one form of the newly invented'spreader. v Fig. 1 isan edge view of the same.

Fig. l is' an end View of the spreader shown inFigs.1and1?.; f

' Fig. 1 is a blank, from which the spreader shown in Figs. 1, 1 and 11 is stamped out;

Fig. 2 is a face view of another form of the spreader. s t" Fig. 2? is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 2 isan end view; s 1 Fig.2 is a blank, from'whichthe spreader shown'in Figs; 2, 2 and 2 is stamped out.

F 1g. 3 is a 'face view of another form of the spreaderuj j '1 Fig.3 i'san edge view of the same;

Fig. S is'an'end View. f

Fig. 3 is a blanl'r, from which the Spreaders shown in Figs. 3, 3, stamped out a '3", t, a, and 4" are 4 is a face view of another form of the spreader; v I

Z'Fig. 4 isan edge view of the same. Fig. 4" is an end view. Fig. 5 is a face view'of spreader. 4 I I Fig. 5Tis an edge'view of the same."

Fig; 6 is a face view of another form of the spreader. I v v t Fig "s a sectional view on small scale, of an I-beam in a mold in which a spreader is employed. I p I 1 indicates the body which is made of any desirable thickness of sheet metal and of any desired'length and width. For general use, the main body may be one inch wide,"two incheslongand inch in thickness, more or less, or of any width, length and thickness determined by the nature of the work and the strength required. i

2 indicates teeth and 3 and 3' indicate the stop which may be between or at either or another form of the both edges of said teeth. In Fig. 3 the tooth 2 is central to a flat extension of the flat body 1 and the feet 3 are lateral bends of the portion of the body 1 bent at right angles to the flat extension 2.

The spreader pieces may be formed by stamping operations well understood to metal workers, not necessary to desoribehere.

In using the device, the workman will simply set such number of spreaders as may be desired by driving theirteeth into the face of the wooden form member a, and will then bring such member into the desired position with the free end of'the spreader in contact with the steel member 7) from which the form is to be spaced.

The form will then besecured in position and the concrete poured in the usual manner. WVhen' theconcrete has set, all that is necessary is to loosen the mold members and withdraw them'from the concrete and the projecting teeth, which may then be bent over, thus forming an anchor for plaster, the spreaders remaining imbedded in the concrete.

The stops formed by feet are shown extending at right angles to the flat body 1 so that when the spreader is driven home,the feet will hold the body perpendicular to the form V or the mold member into which the teeth are driven. Particular attention in this respect is directed to the form shown in Figs. 4, Is and 4 in which the feet 3 afford support of the tooth in four directions which not only prevents the tooth from bending in a fiatwis'e direction, but also affords sufficient purchase against the face of the mold member to bring the body of the member to position at right angles to such surface as the spacer is driven "home irrespective of any deflection from true position given to such body up to the time of final driving.

In the form illustrated by Figs. 1, 1 1 and 1 the teeth are at the edges and with'the feet are formed by three slits 4, 5,5 so that the laterally bent feet of trapezoidal configuration widen outwardly, thus to afford a broad base to hold the spreader perpendicular to the 1form member when the teeth are fully driven a straight form engaging edge at one end and provided at the opposite-end with a tooth adapted to be driven into the form, and also provided at each side with a foot, said feet extending in opposite directions from the I flat body to form stops to contact with the face of the form and to hold the body perpendicular to said face.

2. A spacer for concrete fireproofing for steel structures, consisting of a sheet metal body having at one-end a point, and at the edges of the point, feet bent inopposite directions and extending at right angles and forming supports in a common plane on four sides of the tooth so thatwhen the tooth is driven into a mold member, the contact of either foot with the mold member will serve to bring the body of the spacer into position at right angles to the face of the mold member into which the tooth is driven.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 20th day of October, 1926.

WALLACE A. FERRIS.

In the fOIIIl illustrated by Figs. 3, 3 3 3 I and 4, the teeth are at the center and with the feet, are formed by two slits 6'and 6.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 5, the flat body or blank 1, is sheared at one end to provide teeth at the edges and a straight edge 3 therebetween, which forms a stop, while in the form illustrated in Fig. 6, the blank 1, at

one end is sheared to provide a centrally disposed tooth and oppositely disposed shoulders forming stops 3.

The driving may be done by a blow with "a hammer on the free end of the spreader after the manner of driving a nail.

I claim 1. A, spacer consisting of a fiat body having 

